World Hunger! Feed the needy by participating at freerice.com

What a novel idea!

If you surf to - freerice.com - you can test your facility for words - and at the same time - make a contribution to feed hungry mouths of the world.

For example, when you surf to the automated web site, just click on a word to test your knowledge of its meaning.

If you get the answer correct, the UN World Food Program will donate twenty grains of rice in your name!

Essentially, FreeRice has two goals:

First, to provide an English vocabulary to everyone for free.
Secondly, to end world hunger by providing rice to needy people without cost.

The project is made possible by concerned sponsors who advertise on the site.

Whether you are a CEO of a large corporation or a street child in a poor country, improving your vocabulary can improve your life. Subsequently, the goal is not only a worthwhile one, but a great investment for the future.

More importantly - the organizers note - a hands-on involvement in the project results in a donation of rice to the impoverished of the world, which later - by virtue of its nutritional value - not only nourishes, but enables the needy to function - and hence - be more productive with their lives.

If you contribute to the effort in the near future, somewhere around the globe a hungry individual will be eating rice you helped provide!

You may wonder how playing the "vocabulary game" at FreeRice may help a person. For starters, a grasp of new vocabulary has tremendous benefits.

For example, a facility with words can help an individual:

*Formulate ideas better
*Write better papers, emails and business letters
*Speak more precisely and persuasively
*Comprehend more of what is read
*Read faster because the ideas are comprehended better
*Get better grades in high school, college and graduate school
*Score higher on tests like the SAT, GRE, LSAT and GMAT
*Perform better at job interviews and conferences
*Sell themselves, services, and products better
*Be more effective and successful at their job

And, after participating in the FreeRice program for a couple of days, organizers allege participants may notice an odd phenomenon. Words that were never consciously used before will begin to pop into the head while a person is speaking or writing. In sum, those who get involved in the project, may find themselves facilitating words in remarkably new and interesting ways, according to the sponsors.

This is how the program works at the site:

FreeRice has a custom database containing thousands of words at varying degrees of difficulty. There are words appropriate for people just learning English and words that will challenge the most scholarly professors. In addition, there are thousands of words tailor-made for students, business people, homemakers, doctors, truck drivers, retired people - you name it.

FreeRice automatically adjusts to the player's level of vocabulary as they engage in word play at the site. For instance, it starts off by giving words at different levels of difficulty - and then, based on how well a person does - assigns an approximate starting level. Then, the individual may determine a more exact level as they continue to play.

When word turns out to be wrong, the person is kicked down to an easier level. When three words in a row are right, a harder level is activated. This one-to-three ratio is best for keeping individuals at the “outer fringe” of their vocabulary where learning can take place, note the experts.

There are 55 levels in all, but it is rare for people to get much above level 48.

How is the difficulty level for each word determined?

The program keeps track of how many people get each word right or wrong, and then adjusts each word’s difficulty level accordingly. So the words at the easiest levels are the ones that people most often get right. The words at the hardest levels are the ones that people most often get wrong. As more and more people have played the game, these levels have become increasingly more accurate.

The rice is paid for by the advertisers posted on the bottom of the vocabulary screen. This is regular advertising for these companies, but it is also something more. Through their advertising at FreeRice these companies support both learning (free vocabulary for everyone) and reducing hunger (free rice for the hungry).

The rice is distributed by the United Nations World Food Program (WFP).

The World Food Program is the world’s largest food aid agency, working with over 1,000 other organizations in over 75 countries. In addition to providing food, the World Food Program helps hungry people to become self-reliant so that they escape hunger for good. Wherever possible, the World Food Program buys food locally to support local farmers and the local economy.

People may wonder why the rice is not handed out right away...

FreeRice is not sitting on a pile of rice; the players are earning it at twenty grains at a time.

Here's how it works. When a person plays the game, advertisements appear on the bottom of the screen. The money generated by these advertisements is then used to buy the rice. So by playing, the interactive party generates the money that pays for the rice donated to hungry people.

Facts about World Hunger

In the Asian, African and Latin American countries, well over 500 million people are living in what the World Bank refers to as "absolute poverty"

Every year 15 million children die of hunger.

For the price of one missile, a school full of hungry children could eat lunch every day for five years, according to the latest research.

Throughout the 1990's more than 100 million children will die from illness and starvation. Those 100 million deaths could be prevented for the price of ten spanking-new stealth bombers or what the world spends on its military in two days, apparently.

The World Health Organization estimates that one-third of the world is well-fed, one-third is under-fed, while the remaining one-third is starving.

When a person first enters the freerice site, at least 200 people will have died of starvation. And, according to the latest statistics, over 4 million will perish this year.

One in twelve people worldwide is malnourished, including 160 million children under the age of 5.

The Indian subcontinent has nearly half the world's hungry people. Africa and the rest of Asia together have approximately forty percent, and the remaining hungry people are found in Latin America and other parts of the world.

Nearly one in four people (1.3 billion - a majority of humanity) live on less than on dollar per day, while the world's 358 billionaires have assets exceeding the combined annual incomes of countries with forty-five percent of the world's people.

3 billion people in the world today struggle to survive on two dollars (U.S. funds) a day.

In 1994 the Urban Institute in Washington DC estimated that one out of six elderly people in the U.S. have an inadequate diet.

And, in the United States, it is alleged that hunger and race are related. In 1991 forty-six percent of African-American children were chronically hungry, and forty percent of Latino children were chronically hungry compared to sixteen percent of white children.

The infant mortality rate is closely linked to inadequate nutrition among pregnant women. The U.S. ranks 23rd among industrial nations in infant mortality. African-American infants die at nearly twice the rate of white infants.

One out of every eight children under the age of twelve in the U.S. goes to bed hungry every night and half of all children under five years of age in South Asia. One third of the populace’s children in sub-Saharan Africa are malnourished.

In 1997 alone, the lives of at least 300,000 young children were saved by vitamin A supplementation programmes in developing countries.

Malnutrition is implicated in more than half of all child deaths worldwide - a proportion unmatched by any infectious disease since the Black Death

About 183 million children weigh less than they should for their age.

To satisfy the world's sanitation and food requirements would cost only thirteen billion (U.S. funds) - a sum consumers in the United States and the European Union - spend on perfume and cosmetics each year.

The assets of the world's three richest men are more than the combined GNP of all the least developed countries on the planet.

Every 3.6 seconds someone dies of hunger.

It is estimated that some 800 million people in the world suffer from hunger and malnutrition, about 100 times as many as those who actually die from it each year.

Do you part today, to end world hunger tomorrow!

FreeRice is a sister site of the world poverty site at Poverty.com

Mahatma Gandhi...quote on immortality!

I believe in the immortality of the soul.
I would like to give you the analogy of the ocean.
The ocean is composed of drops of water, each drop is an entity and yet is part of the whole, "The one and the many".
In this ocean of life we are all little drops.
My doctrine means that I must identify myself with life, with everything that lives, that I must share the majesty of life in the presence of God.
The sum total of this life is God.

Mahatma Gandhi
India's Case for Swaraj
(1932)

24th Annual Asian Pacific Film Festival...Jaycee Chan & Kenneth Bi appear at screening of THE DRUMMER. A remarkable film!

"The Drummer" (which screened at the Asian Pacific Film Festival) is about a band of ZEN musicians and a troubled young man who stumbles upon their humble community in the mountains of Taiwan.

"For me," noted director Kenneth Bi,

"It began with a stage performance."

After attending a theatrical production by the world-renowned drummers, the genesis of an idea for the feature film crystallized.

Jaycee Chan - son of famed actor Jackie Chan - adeptly plays a lost young man born into a crime family in the mean streets of Hong Kong.

When a gang war breaks out, and a bounty is placed on his head, SID flees to Taiwan to escape their wrath with the help of his father's tainted cash.

One day, the bored young man hears the sounds of drums echoing throughout the valleys of the majestic mountains, which sparks a journey up a path to their humble community.

Over the crest of a hill, he is startled to spy a serene group of men and women pounding on a set of drums in a rigorous, almost sacred manner.

He later learns they are Zen Drummers practising for an upcoming world tour.

Because Chan's character played the drums when he was a youth - mainly to vent his anger and distract himself from the painful memories of a broken home life - he strides up, cocky and full of swagger, and demands to demonstrate his skills on the skins.

When the Buddhists are hesitant to respond, he retorts like any typical spoiled American brat.

"I'll pay you."

It is quickly impressed on the lad that drum-playing is whole different musical experience in this spiritual community.

In fact, the rhythmic playing is not the "be all" and "end all" at all; but rather, part of a Zen philosophy in a holistic approach to life.

When SID begs a teacher for the chance to step forward and display his skills on the drums, a wise Master solemnly responds.

"He teaches you how to play the drums and I teach you 'how not' to."

Moments later, after beating the heck out of the skins (in what amounts to an audition) it is evident to the Masters that while SID is "talented", he is not ready spiritually to join in.

So, like a typical disciple, he is assigned various tasks designed to steer him on the right path.

In essence, he must come to understand the "hearbeat" of the mountain, the meaning of day-to-day existence - and likewise - be able to fathom the rhythms of life itself.

When the angry young man is asked to fetch water for the drummers, he is forced to walk several miles for gas when it is discovered the tank for the water-pump is empty. After a long arduous stroll to purchase the fuel, he toils with his unwelcome burden all the way back to camp.

Frustrated by these seemingly worthless annoyances, he ends up lashing out.

"I'm just a slave to you."

After all, he doesn't understand the methodology of the teacher, or the reasoning behind the daily chores.

The incident reminded me of an old proverb:t

Before enlightenment -
Chopping wood, drawing water;
After enlightenment -
Chopping wood, drawing water.

The Master then asks SID to go down to the stream and pluck up forty rocks and return to the camp with them in tow. Although bewildered by the request, he proceeds to carry out the task. When he returns with the odd assortment of pebbles, SID is then instructed to place the rubble into a satchel.

Once accomplished, he is instructed to carry the bag of stones over his shoulder wherever he journeys around the mountain each day.

For those who are familiar with practice of ZEN, the instructions of the teacher are not entirely bizarre in nature.

A Master glimpses into the soul of the disciple and assigns a koan (a puzzle) for the seeker to solve - one that is uniquely tailored to ensure a disciple's spiritual growth - with the ultimate aim of setting them squarely on their "path".

In essence, the seemingly innocuous teachings aid the student in fathoming their place in the grand scheme of things, so that they may come to know the true essence of existence on the earth plane.

Only in this way, can the mystery of the "moment" be realized.

Mr. Bi noted that when he first arrived in Taiwan, he sauntered up the mountain and stumbled across the Zen Drummers, much like the character does in the film.

"There I was in the wilderness of the mountain. At the top, when I turned and looked back, a modern city sat in the distance."

In a moment of revelation - it struck him that the "people" were living in the mountains - and that the "animals" were stalking the city below.

With powerful insight and expert storytelling techniques under his belt, Kenneth Bi manages to capture the remarkable transformation that occurs for SID on the journey from the dark underbelly of life into the Divine light of the Godhead.

24th Annual Asian Pacific Film Festival..."Queer as Folk" stars turn out for splashy Gala reception!

Queer as Folk star appeared at Festival Gala!

The Gala reception for the Pacific Asian Film Fest was a big splash on Thursday night, attracting a host of well-heeled celebrities, along with an eclectic mix of media artists and curiosity-seekers.

The liquor flowed at the open bar, as the effervescent film enthusiasts chatted each other up to a fever pitch over scrumptious rounds of tasty beef and chicken, succulent mouth-watering fruit of the season, and delectable finger pastries.

As I scanned the room, I was enthralled with the fashion presence.

A number of slender Asian women were smartly dolled-up in chic, sheer, body-hugging party dresses - in distinctive eye-pleasing colors - like coral, turquoise, blood red, cerulean, and canary yellow. A handful of the trendy ladies turned out in full-length designer gowns that skirted the plush carpet below and hugged their elegant chins above with exquisitely-designed high-collar flourishes.

One pretty young gal with porcelain skin wore an outfit based on a traditional Chinese design - "but modernized" - she noted, with a sweet engaging smile. A silk shawl draped about her shoulders embossed with a Chinese character on one side, with intricate embroidery and delicate detailing, accented just right.

The men took the occasion to dress up, too.

Many of the fashion savvy males were turned out sharply in understated designer suits - usually in solid colors - such as black, slate grey, and navy blue. Into the mix, a posse of adventurous dressers ably matched up sport jackets with silk vests and designer jeans. A few wore caps, slouchy hats, and - as was the case with a couple of the artists in the crowd - sported braided pony-tails.

Basically, the high-energy room was packed with a young, lively, with-it crowd; although the attendees ranged throughout the upper generations, which was refreshing on this festive occasion.

In fact, one of the Directors of the Festival, David Magdael - a pleasant, easy-going man with a great personality - noted there has been a surge of younger participants at the annual event in the past couple of years as viewers and as participants in the creative arena.

"A lot of the youth today are not interested in pursuing careers as Doctors or Dentists, as was the norm previously; but rather, are inclined to go into the visual artists and filmmaking as serious career endeavors, now."

The films also took a new turn this year from the formal class-focused bill-of-fare to celluloid pieces that are - "gritty and real" - which he saw as a plus.

"The Machine Girl" is an example of one, which screens tonight at the Director's Guild at 9:30 p.m. (see poster below)

In considering projects for the festival, he was quick to add that the Asian Film Festival is always seeking "new voices". And, work need not always be perfect from a production-value point-of-view, but must show originality and potential.

Obviously, it's an artful question.

He also was thrilled to inform me that 2008 was a big year for female directors.

"Ten directors will be showing their work during the course of the Festival, ongoing May 1st through May 8th at a handful of venues about the city."

There also was a big interest in Filipino entries this year. In fact, one director was also accepted into the Cannes Film Festival which signaled to many that the Asian Pacific Festival is a great springboard for emerging talent across the board.

In conjunction with the Gala opening reception, PING PONG PLAYA screened to a very enthusiastic full-house.

In fact, the red carpet was packed with many of the stars featured in the film - who turned out for the festive event - including high profile "Queer as Folk" stars - Peter Paige and Scott Lowell.
Mr. Paige and Mr. Lowell - to the delight of filmgoers - were quite accessible and strolled through the room ready to engage in chit-chat with fans and film connoisseurs present.

PING PONG PLAYA was a delightful comedy which was well-received by a wild, enthusiastic audience. A review follows in a day or so.

Upcoming highlights include "Kissing Cousins" on May 4th and the "Home Song Stories" to screen on May 8th.

But, there is a lot to choose from - 160 entries in all.

In addition, there will be a number of seminars and panel discussions. And, as usual, many of the films screened will include thought-provoking Q & A sessions after; so, if you're pining to have a chat with a star, or a real live film director, check the schedule to pinpoint an event to actively pursue those intentions.

By the way, if any seniors are interested in learning about Visual Communications, take notice there will be a couple of seminars held later in the week that may be up your alley. For those of us born in a "different" era - who weren't weaned on computers (I remember an archaic device known as the typewriter, for instance) it may provide an opportunity to catch up with all the rich media and technology proliferating in the marketplace today

So, a special thanks to the Film Festival for recognizing this, and offering up the chance to get on board and become part of a vital creative community.

Info: http://www.vconline.org/festival

http://www.julianayrs.com

Cher...Las Vegas Diva headliner! May 6th.

The unstoppable flawless Cher will explode onto the Las Vegas stage on the evening of May 6th - my birthday!

Well, actually I share the "B" day with George Clooney.

Guess it's pretty obvious that any male born on this auspicious day is handsome, irresistible, charismatic, charming and - um - I guess you get the idea!

Undoubtedly, there will be a number of dazzling costume changes for the Pop chanteuse - and a dizzying array of fabulous hairpieces to match up with 'em - sure to make any drag Queen envious!

In fact, I understand that while Cher is performing during her stint in Sin City, a well-known female impersonator will be taking the stage elsewhere in town, with her best impressions of the mega star sure to tantalize.

Gosh - who knows - maybe a handful of the out-of-towners will jot down the wrong reservation number and end up in a swirl of falsies, hair extensions, and tucked-away d**k. Sounds like a scene out of LA CAUX AUX FOLLES, doesn't it?

I remember the early days when Cher and Sonny starred on their CBS Variety show.

At the top of the show, Cher usually sashayed out; then, a gasp would erupt from the rapt audience - followed by uproarious applause - at the sight of Mrs."B" in the latest outrageous Bob Mackie designer gown.

At this juncture, Cher would maneuver a little turn and joyously scream,

"Let's hear it for the dress!"

In fact, in those heady days when censorship was a tad tighter on the airwaves, each week there was a big brouhaha over racy outfits that often caused a multitude of migraines for the CBS execs. Indeed, on occasion, a dress appeared to be nothing more than a skimpy band-aid pasted on here and there about her tanned slender body.

Throughout the opening number, Cher was inclined to flip her long silky strands to one side, as she ceremoniously licked her lips. Yes, the perceptible personality quirks stuck, and were great fodder for impersonators to take a poke at ever after.

Once the top brass at CBS got a gander at "The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour" on its debut in August of 1971 as a five-week summer replacement series, their collective gut instinct was that this was the hot ticket the network was searching for.

So, when 'Sonny and Cher' skyrocketed to dizzying heights within weeks on the old boob tube, a pact was signed to return in December to replace a mainstay - 'The Chicago Teddy Bears' - on Friday nights at 8:00 p.m.

By the fall of 1973, the slot became a consistent top-ten winner - probably due to the fact it was a high-caliber show which featured talented popular regulars such as - Terri Garr, Freeman King, Peter Cullen, Billy Van, The Unknown Comic, Ted Zeigler, and Chastity Bono (the couple's tot).

By 1973, however, the tabloids were rife with stories of wild scream fests, missed gigs (including a last minute one in Vegas, subbed by Johnny Carson) and reports of Cher sporting a black eye. When the show finished eighth in the 73-74 season, Sonny Bono filed for divorce - and on the heels of the decree - the final episode of the 'Sonny and Cher' was taped.

In the aftermath, CBS signed Cher to star in her own variety series. Not to be outdone by his ex, Sonny proceeded to sign a deal with ABC for his own shot on the airwaves backed by the same producers, writing staff, and regular players from the previous bill-of-fare.

In a jab at Cher, Sonny joked,

"We'll have all the same players," then added, "We'll be missing one, actually".

Sonny’s shot at the big-time was a dismal failure, mostly due to the fact Cher - the cog that kept the wheels spinning - was out of the picture and unable to bolster his morale and the ratings. In sum, the writing was uneven and the guest stars were run-of-the-mill. In short order, Sonny's solo stretch limped into the sunset.

In contrast, the Cher show debuted on Sunday February 16, 1975 with popular guest-stars Elton John, Bette Midler and Flip Wilson.

"I'm scared to death,” Cher said at the time about her own humble offering.

"I'm so afraid of that first walk-out. Here I am alone, naked to the world (huh?). What do you think world? Do you forgive me?"

The series was produced by a long-time writer for "Laugh-In" - George Schlatter - and always started with Cher draped in a dark cape crooning inaudibly at a lone piano in a lackluster start-up. Then, without warning, Cher suddenly threw off the veil - and as the music thumped up tempo - the little whirlwind proceeded to strut to the front of the stage revealing her latest navel-exposing Mackie gem.

The first-nighter was thrilling, but the show quickly slumped in the weeks that followed as the shtick failed to stick. At this juncture, Cher opted to go back to "square one” and team up with Sonny for a follow-up show.

But new problems surfaced in her life.

A quickie marriage to Greg Allman turned into a nightmarish fiasco. What was the lady to do, with a bundle of joy on the way?

In view of the unusual events unfolding, the CBS censors were inclined to look closer at the new spot which was now slotted into the "family hour". With that foremost in their mind, the network complained to the star that her clothes and image were not appropriate for a recent divorcee.

"Suddenly I should start coming off like Julie Andrews?" Cher asked incredulously.

Over the next few weeks, the show's ratings fell steadily, as did the quality of the writing.

'Sonny and Cher' hovered near the bottom of the ratings for most of the second year before limping off the air without so much as a bang. In fact, Sonny and Cher were now a total write-off to the Network, and canceled for good after hosting four different variety series between them in just six years.

Amen!

But, Cher hung in there!

One night I was at the Backlot in West Hollywood a number of years ago when she arrived with Elton John in tow. The idea is laughable now, but back then, the gossip-mongers wagged their tongues about a potential sizzlin' hot affair between the dynamic pop twosome. Well, maybe the clothes-horses talked about frocks and wigs into the wee hours of dawn. Not much else was goin' down, I betcha.

Like the energizer Rabbit, Cher has gone on and on and on...with so many "final curtains under her belt", I can't count!

The Las Vegas extravaganza should be a hoot, though.

Curiously, in recent days, it was revealed that Cher had a novelty "john" installed in her high-end dressing room in Vegas for the upcoming gig. Imagine that, a potty that actually opens its lid automatically and blows up a waft of fresh air into the nether - um - regions. I've heard of bl**-jobs, but this is taking it to the max, don't 'ya think?

I trust Cher will avoid wailing - "Gypsies, Tramps, and Thieves" - this time around; and, any outfit inclined to conjure up the theme. A little tired now, don't you think, Cher?

And, stay clear of oddities like "Half Breed", too. The political climate has changed since your hey-day, Ms. C. Be politically correct, please!

The humor can stay, though. And, the muscled back-up go-go boys are a must!

Did you know that Cher used to practice signing her signature for hours on end when she was a pimply-faced teenager, 'cause she knew she would be famous one day?

Amazing confidence, when you consider her humble beginnings.

Born in El Centro in California in 1946, Cher was a sad fatherless child. And, Mom was an eight-times-married failed show-biz performer who struggled by on occasional singing gigs and brief movie roles. According to biographers, Cher delightfully watched her mother’s nervy career pursuits from the sidelines and pined to be in the spotlight, as well.

For personal reasons, the starry-eyed youth ended up dropping out to take acting lessons in Tinsel town. She stumbled along her new path until she met an intriguing man - Sonny - who would change her life at the age of seventeen.

The moment was a turning point for the shy teen.

Cher met her future husband at Aldo's Coffee Shop, the place where celebrities used to hang out. Since Cher was basically a nobody with fantasies about pop stardom - Sonny, a bit of a celebrity at the time - swept her off her feet.

In fact, shortly after their first encounter, Cher became attached to the homely - but engaging character - and moved in with him. In those early days, they both swore up-and-down that their relationship was platonic. In spite of the fact they shared an apartment, Cher alleged they slept in separate beds. (!)

Cher's mother tried to separate them, but to no avail. Curiously, one day out-of-the-blue, they did an about-face and professed their love for each other!

In spite of their long drawn-out break-up years later, Cher noted in one biography - "The First Time" - that Bono was the ultimate love of her life and that the two remained amicable despite their personal differences and subsequent hardships.

Cher confessed in one intimate moment,

"What you saw on TV with Sonny and Cher was a good representation of our personal life, always laughing and having fun".

Perhaps the solid footing between the two is the reason why Sonny and Cher hit gold with their single - "I've got you Babe" - when it first hit the charts. For some inexplicable reason, the song - and the curious couple - resonated in the hearts of teenagers - and parents alike - around the Nation in those innocent days.

"The Beat goes on" and "Baby Don't Go" followed, boosting their image in the industry somewhat, too.

Sonny's off-beat attire and Cher's far-out fashion schematics - featuring colorful hip-hugging pants, skimpy tops, shaggy hair and fur vests - appealed greatly to the hipsters and fans who wanted to emulate them.

Life turned in a different direction after their daughter Chastity was born in 1969, though. The intense spotlight caused problems; consequently, the home life of the winsome threesome became hectic and unstable. On stage Cher was calm, but she noted to the press that - "backstage was turbulent" - and that she felt trapped.

Cher stated in her biography,

"The only way I could continue life happily was to split with Sonny and bring our show to a premature end." She continued, "This devastated our fans, as well as CBS executives, but it had to be done, I was simply, unhappy with my life."

In the end, stardom pulled Cher's marriage down; but, the media attention on Cher propelled her into the super stratosphere as she dated new beaus. Usually, quite young!

The brief marriage to Allman ended up in divorce due to the musician's addictions to booze and heroin.

When that sad scenario ended, it appeared that at 33 - the unemployed single mother was all washed-up - career-wise.

But then, as if by a miracle, Cher was cast in a movie called 'Silkwood', opposite film great, Meryl Streep.

Cher recalls poignantly,
"I will never forget the time Silkwood premiered in New York. As soon as my name was mentioned, the audience laughed. I felt so bad, but you know, you can't argue with these things, it's just a natural, organic response from the audience."

However, Cher had the last laugh when she was nominated for an Oscar!

In fact, by 1987, Cher was in such demand that she found herself in three important feature films at once, "The Witches of Eastwick", "Suspect" and "Moonstruck".

At 41, after twenty-five years in show biz, Cher was on top again.

To her surprise, she sauntered back into the music arena in a stupendous way with a surprise hit - "If I could turn back time" - in which she flaunted her sexy appeal - in an enticing risqué outfit as she wantonly pranced around on a ship full of young soldiers. The result? She garnered a big buzz in headlines around the globe, once again.

In the nineties, Cher re-invented her music persona, in fact.

But, as she was riding the crest of a wave of success, tragic news struck.

Sonny was killed in a skiing accident.

"I was in London in January 1998 when I heard the dreaded news. Chastity rang me and brought the news of Sonny's death. I dropped everything and fled to Heathrow Airport and the media watched my every move. Even though we had been apart for over 24 years I couldn't ignore the fact that I spent a quarter of my life with this guy."

Full of remorse during her reconciliatory eulogy at his funeral, Cher praised the man who had been father, partner, friend, and foe - displaying a side of herself the world had never seen. Though hurt by endless criticism that her appearance at the funeral was an attention-seeking devise (they didn’t look like crocodile tears to me) Cher continued to mourn openly and pay tribute to Bono in a sentimental CBS documentary.

By March 1999 - looking as glamorous as ever - Cher was ruling the Top 40 charts and holding the number one spot four consecutive weeks with her new title song, "Believe".

How to define Cher?

Well - she's a survivor - first and foremost. Then, a pop singer, TV Star, Academy Award-Winning Actress, Disco Diva, home decorator, and fashion icon.

Although Cher's been written off countless times in the past, she just springs back and conquers anew each year, each decade.

For an original ugly duckling, you've come a long way, Babe!

Now, on to Vegas, for more glorious moments in the sun.

See 'ya there!

US Bank rip-off....US Bankcorp engages in fraud with Skylight Financial; Americans bilked by scam!

A few weeks ago, I posted a warning notice to Consumers about a company - IDTECHS - which was involved in a wide-spread scam to illegally debit funds from accounts without authorization.

In various e-mail communications, consumers were blindly offered advance pay-day loans. However, the initial offer was just a fraudulent scheme to obtain bank account numbers so that IDTECHS could illegally debit funds without the prior knowledge of the account-holders.

For example, after the Bank Card clients provided their account numbers for funds to be deposited, IDTECHS proceeded to debit funds for "insurance charges" and "fraud protection" coverage - in spite of the fact the options were not chosen.

When consumers checked their account balances to determine if the loan funds were deposited, they got quite a shock when they discovered that - instead - money had been debited from their accounts on false pretenses.

Then, when the consumers called the 800 number provided by IDTECHS on the bank statements, they got the run-around from the company - and generally - a blatant refusal to reimburse the funds.

One employee argued that the consumer had checked a box for insurance on the loan - and that even if they were not approved for the cash advance - they were still required to pay for the insurance - which later was established to be bogus, too.

When I posted a warning about this scam, in the ensuing weeks thereafter, about two dozen victims were able to locate my blog post through an Internet search on IDTECHS, and have since poured out their woes to me at the blog site.

February 6th.2008 Post:

ijulian.blogspot.com/2008/02/wwwidthecscompay-loan-scam-fraudulent.html

In spite of complaints with the Better Business Bureau and the FBI, victims are still being ripped off as of yesterday.

But now, it has come to my attention that due to this scam - another one has been uncovered at US Bank and their fraudulent subsidiary - Skylight Financial.

One contact of mine went to U.S. Bank the other night to withdraw funds which were being automatically deposited into his account at midnight and was shocked to be denied access to his own account! A message onscreen informed him that the ATM service was not available, in spite of the fact the funds were in his account.

When he called the 800 number on the back of his Visa Debit Card, a tape-recorded message from the U.S. BANK Subsidiary - Skylight Financial - noted that the business office would be closed until 9 a.m. the following morning.

My friend was in shock! He was down to a dollar in his wallet, with just a trickle of gas in his vehicle. Without the funds, he would not be able to eat or put gas in his car so that he could drive home.

At this juncture, he called VISA International to ask for "emergency" assistance.

When VISA checked the account number, they were able to verify that the debit card was valid, and that there did not appear to be any reason for a denial of access to funds.

According to their records, though, U.S. BANK - not Skylight Financial - was listed as the issuer of the VISA Debit Card.

When the kind operator put the card-holder through to US Bank, they stated that they did not have any "access" to the account, and consequently, could not make a determination as to why the request for funds was denied at the ATM, or even give authorization for issuance of emergency funds.

The operator informed the consumer he would have to wait until the following morning when Skylight Financial opened at 9 a.m. to determine what the problem was with his account card.

Imagine that! My friend was forced to sleep in his car overnight, without dinner, and huddle in the cold throughout the chilly evening until the bank answered the phone in the morning.

In the morning when he spoke to a couple of operators, and asked to speak to a supervisor - at first - the brisk employees put him on hold, then proceeded to rudely hang up on him.

When he finally reached a Skylight representative with a modicum of professionalism about an hour later - and after being put on hold for about thirty minutes - he was informed that a restriction had been placed on his card because of an "unauthorized" charge dispute he submitted in respect to IDTHECS.

Yup, the scam originally reported on this blog, weeks ago.

Although Skylight agreed to "lift" the restriction so he could access his cash that morning, they informed him in a huff that the account would be closed the next day (May 2nd) on the grounds that he was a "risk".

My friend was in a panic because he was expecting a second payroll account deposit at midnight - which meant - he might not be able to access those funds!

When he became angry and noted he had not been given any legal notice of the intention to close his account - and that the many other Americans suffered the same illegal access to accounts by IDTECHS - the operator began to make silly excuses and gave him the bum's rush.

"We can close your account at any time," she snapped at him.

"Besides," she added, "We prompted you for a few days to inform you about the closure, so it's your fault for not responding."

My friend did not receive any so-called prompts. In fact, when he checked his balance the day before on the telephone and the Internet, there were no notices to that effect. Notwithstanding, his account with the bank had been in good-standing for over two years before the unauthorized charge by IDTHECS.

What an absurd notion, to punish an account holder because they were victimized by an embezzler accessing their account - no doubt due to a lack of bank security, yet!

When he argued these points, the operator got annoyed and became rude and insulting, so my friend asked to speak to the Manager. Not surprisingly, the woman claimed the Director - Patricia Wys - was not available.

The Skylight employee would not disclose a contact number for the President & CEO for Skylight - Kevin Lee - noting in a snotty voice that she was not required to give out the information.

At least three lengthily messages left on the Patricia Wys voice mail unit remained unanswered, in spite of the emergency.

In retrospect, it appears that Ms. Wys was "hiding" and did not want to be bothered dealing with a crisis situation where a client was illegally denied funds, treated reprehensibly by staff, and suffered injury due to bank negligence, a breach of an agreement, and Violations of State & Federal Bank regulations.

However, the bizarre story does not end there.

When my friend withdraw all but six dollars from his account, he later checked his balance, and was shocked to notice that an "internal transfer" in the sum of $70.00 had been debited from his account that morning after he talked with the bank employee; now, placing his account into an overdraft status of about sixty-one dollars.

What was going on?

He called Starlight back and was informed that an old account that was closed (over a year ago) had an overdraft balance of $70.00 and that the Bank made the debit that morning to cover the loss.

The new turn of events didn't make any sense.

My friend pointed out that the allegations of a previous overdraft were ridiculous. After all, why would the bank open up a new account with VISA access to ATM's if his prior account was not in good standing? Notwithstanding, no one ever contacted him from the bank asking for payment, or allowed him to dispute the alleged charges as required by law.

When my friend asked how the charges occurred, Paco Costa - a bank person who was reluctant to provide any information about his exact position with the Starlight Financial - alleged that charges for a Gold's Gym Membership (Gold's Gym is notorious for their deceitful business practices; a story will follow) were submitted on the account - "after it was closed".

Can you imagine? The bank was seeking to recover charges (a year after-the-fact) on an account that was officially "closed"?

My friend noted how ludicrous a notion it was. Then, it got even more sinister.

When asked pointedly about the alleged charges, Paco Costa was unable to provide a contact number or proof of any alleged debits made to Gold's Gym on the telephone. In fact, at this juncture, Mr. Costa admitted that the Gold's debit requests had been returned unpaid. The $70.00 charges debited that morning were accrued by virtue of $15.00 NSF charges the bank imposed on the unauthorized charges that were submitted on the "closed account".

Insanity.

Imagine that, a bank affiliate - associated with one of the leading banks in the country - U.S. BANK - engaging in such wild, deceitful, fraudulent conduct.

Paco Costa didn't have any response when the obvious questions were raised on the issues. How could he? Clearly, the man was not dealing with a full deck - and obviously - had an IQ of about 2, if that.

Of course, it is wholly possible that the reason my friend was able to run circles around Mr. Costa - in the logic department, for one - was because Costa was aware that - he, Patricia Wys, and Kevin Lee (CEO of Skylight) - were in deep sh** over their illegal, wrongful conduct which was in direct Violation of State & Federal Laws. And, in view of it, he'd better be careful about the comments he made on record.

In fact, after reviewing the facts and evidence in these quarters, it is evident that US Bank set up Skylight Financial to rip off "poor" Americans.

For example, if a consumer applies for a US Bank card online, and their assets are low or their credit is spotty, US Bank offers a "Skylight Financial" card for consumers who have regular payroll deposits or a direct deposit of Government Benefit checks, like Social Security.

Initially, to open the card, the consumers are charged a hefty start-up fee. If they are unable to open an account elsewhere due to credit issues, what else can they do? They're at the mercy of sharks like US Bank and Skylight Financial, obviously.

It should be noted that when the account is first opened, the ATM card that is provided for bank access does not bear the VISA or MasterCard logo; in fact, the account card for Starlight Financial can only be used at US Bank and their participating ATM's.

Then, lo and behold, one day - out-of-the-blue - Starlight suddenly offers up an ATM card with a VISA logo on its face...for an outrageous fee, of course!

And, if the consumer is capable of reading and comprehending the tiny fine print - and manages to decipher them - it becomes evident that the access charges and surcharges are so ludicrously high - that they border on being illegal, if not downright criminal, in nature.

And, as my friend found out last night, US Bank may not be providing the VISA card to Skylight Financial clients in an upright, legal manner which abides by their Bank charter, business licenses, or even State & Federal Laws, either.

For example, when VISA contacted U.S. Bank - which was the issuer, according to their records - US Bank was unable to verify the account status, or establish why my friend had been denied access to his account.

In sum, it appears that Starlight Financial is using U.S. Bank’s privileges as a registered Bank to facilitate the VISA logo, and that VISA International was never informed of the "shadowy" - perhaps illegal - business/banking arrangement.

In fact, when I spoke to Vice President of Consumer Relations - Lynne Cherry - she admitted that Skylight Financial isn't even a Bank. In addition, they appeared to be owned by another shady division of U.S. BANK, by the name of Elan Financial Services.

What a swirl of intrigue, eh?

After I spoke with Ms. Cherry, a U.S. BANK logo mysteriously disappeared from the Skylight Financial web site today.

Bottom line, it's all part of a master plan to rip off millions of poor unsuspecting Americans around the country, once they take the bait and walk through the deceptive "legitimate door" of a major Financial Institution - U.S. BANK.

Talk about a wolf in sheep's clothing!

I trust that investigations filed with the Thrift & Loan, the office of the State Attorney General, and VISA International, will uncover the fraudulent scam being perpetuated on innocent consumers and that - likewise - the key players will be prosecuted for their heinous financial crimes against the lower classes who can't fight for themselves in a scam of such byzantine proportions.

Divine Presence...appears. Message of peace!

Throughout the night, I was restless - tossing and turning - this way 'n that.

Suddenly, at about 5 a.m., a Divine presence appeared and hovered overhead.

For a moment, as the entity unfolded before me - and revealed its awesome light - I thought I was going to be enveloped by it, swept up.

But, a message was communicated telepathically...not my time yet.

After a serene moment of peace, the light vanished into thin air as quickly as it appeared.

To be continued, I am sure.